Talal El Karkouri

Mara Talal El Karkouri (Arabic: طلال القرقوري, born 8 July 1976) is a Moroccan former professional footballer and currently coach of Qatar Stars League club Umm Salal SC. He played top-flight football in Morocco, France, Greece, England and Qatar before retiring in 2012. He made his international debut for Morocco in 2000, and earned 53 caps, playing at three African Cups of Nations.

Talal El Karkouri
El Karkouri lining up for Morocco in 2009
Personal information
Date of birth (1976-07-08) 8 July 1976
Place of birth Casablanca, Morocco
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1999 Raja Casablanca ? (?)
1995–1997 → Ittihad Tanger (loan) ? (?)
1999–2000 Servette 77 (1)
2000–2004 Paris Saint-Germain 113 (2)
2000–2001 → Aris (loan) 11 (0)
2003 → Sunderland (loan) 8 (0)
2004–2007 Charlton Athletic 78 (8)
2006 → Al-Gharafa (loan) ? (?)
2007–2011 Qatar SC 77 (12)
2011–2012 Umm-Salal ? (?)
Total 364 (23)
International career
2000–2009 Morocco[1] 53 (6)
Managerial career
2016–2018 Umm Salal SC
2023– Umm Salal SC
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Early career

Born in Casablanca, El Karkouri started his career with Raja Casablanca, and was discovered by French club Paris Saint-Germain in 2000. He played in the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League, but after failing to capture a regular place he was sent on loan to Aris in Greece.

On 31 January 2003 he was loaned to Sunderland[2] of the Premier League until the end of the season. His spell was affected by injury, and he was released on 26 May after the club were relegated.[3] The Black Cats lost in all eight of his appearances.[4]

Charlton

In the summer of 2004, he was bought by Charlton Athletic of the Premier League for £1 million.[5] He scored 5 goals in his debut season at Charlton, starting with the only goal in a win over Blackburn Rovers on 27 September 2004, by heading Danny Murphy's corner.[6] He also scored the club's goal of the season against Arsenal.

On 6 April 2006, having made only 12 appearances all season, he was loaned to Al-Gharafa in Qatar.[7]

On 30 December 2006, El Karkouri was given a yellow card by referee Rob Styles for an act of simulation in a home match against Aston Villa involving Villa defender Olof Mellberg. He was accused of a similar act against Reading on 9 April 2007 later in the same season, this time involving Reading striker Leroy Lita, who headbutted him.

Reading boss Steve Coppell accused El Karkouri of faking a 'death roll' and claimed that he would have needed treatment in intensive care had Lita headbutted him.[8] Lita urged the FA to do something about 'diving cheats' after being hit with the ban. He said "I didn't touch him, he went down like an idiot and it was cheating".[9] The FA disagreed and banned the Reading striker for three games for violent conduct. Coppell did not apologise for his comments.

Qatar

On 10 June 2007, following his release and Charlton's relegation, El Karkouri signed a two-year contract with Qatar Sports Club.[10]

On 11 September 2011, after four seasons with Qatar SC, El Karkouri signed a one-year deal with another Qatari club, Umm-Salal.[11]

On 25 May 2012, El Karkouri announced his retirement from professional football.

International career

El Karkouri was capped 53 times and scored 1 goal for Morocco. He was part of the team that finished second in the 2004 African Nations Cup.

On 29 January 2008, he announced his retirement from international football, after his team's failure to qualify for the latter stages of the 2008 African Nations Cup, but he returned on 28 March 2009 playing the 2010 World Cup qualifications match against Gabon in Casablanca.

Honours

Paris Saint-Germain

Morocco

References
  1. Talal El Karkouri - International Appearances
  2. "Sunderland bolster defence". BBC Sport. 31 January 2003. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  3. "ESPNFC: Soccer Sunderland release defender El Karkouri". Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  4. Davie, Chris (18 May 2016). "Aston Villa's Jack Grealish sets unwanted Premier League record". Goal.com. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  5. "Charlton sign El Karkouri". BBC Sport. 11 July 2004. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  6. "Charlton 1-0 Blackburn". BBC News. 27 September 2004.
  7. "ESPNFC: Soccer El Karkouri leaves Addicks for Qatar". Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  8. Russell Kempson (13 April 2007). "Irate Coppell lets rip over El Karkouri 'death roll'". The Times. London. Retrieved 13 April 2007.
  9. Lewis Rutledge (16 April 2007). "Lita Furious with FA". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 April 2007.
  10. "Charlton defender el Karkouri on way to Qatar SC | Australia/Asia News | Tribal Football". Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  11. "QFA | Qatar Football Association - el Karkouri signs with Umm-Salal". Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  12. "Brescia 1-1 PSG". uefa.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2001. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  13. "Résultat et résumé Paris-SG - Châteauroux, Coupe de France, Finale, Samedi 29 Mai 2004". lequipe.fr. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  14. "African Nations Cup 2004".
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